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Almost 96% registered to vote in Wyre Forest

ALMOST 96 per cent of all households in Wyre Forest have registered to vote in this year's district council elections.

The final number of registration forms returned was 43,180 - 95.6 per cent - up 0.7 per cent on last year.

In October Wyre Forest District Council delivered forms to register to vote to all 45,185 residential letterboxes in the district. Later in 2013 the authority also sent out reminder letters and canvassers called at homes where a form had not been returned to the council.

The majority of people sent their forms back in the post (62 per cent), while 31 per cent responded using either internet, text or phone. The remaining seven per cent of forms were collected during house visits.

Electoral registration officer Ian Miller said: “We are pleased to see an increase in the number of households returning the form. It’s a slight rise but important all the same.

"Being on the register not only entitles residents to vote but also helps them to obtain credit. This is because credit reference agencies use information from the register of electors to update their records."

The total number of electors on the register is 80,457 - an increase of 2,496 (3.10 per cent) since the register compiled in October, 2012.

Mr Miller added: “The register has now been published but we are still encouraging people to make sure they are registered. In the summer the Government is introducing a new form of registration. This will require each person to register to vote individually, rather than by household.

"By taking action now it may save residents from having to provide information such as date of birth and national insurance number when the new system is introduced.”

Anyone living in Wyre Forest who is aged 18 or has moved into the area and is not currently included in the published Register of Electors can get a registration form from the council’s website, wyreforestdc.gov.uk or by visiting the Hub at Kidderminster Town Hall or by calling 01562 732928.

gister of Electors is available to view at Kidderminster, Stourport, and Bewdley libraries and the Worcestershire Hub at Kidderminster Town Hall.

The next district, European parliamentary and parish council elections are due to take place on Thursday, May 22.

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